Origin

The Nifcarette was the first camera made by Nichidoku. The first example was completed at the beginning of March 1929.[1] To design the camera, Tashima Kazuo, the founder of the company, was helped by the German engineers Billy Neumann and Willy Heilemann (who later founded Neumann & Heilemann). Billy Neumann previously worked for Krauss and the Nifcarette was inspired from the Rollette made by this company.[2] The lenses and shutters were imported from Germany and only the body was made in Japan. It is said that the initial production was about fifty units per month.[3]

Name

The Roman spelling appearing on the advertisements and on the camera itself is "Nifcarette".[4] Nifcarette was thus the Roman name used by Nichidoku at the time, and it is used throughout this article. The camera is often called "Nifcalette" by mistake. It would be written and pronounced the same in Japanese, and the name "Nifcalette" is probably the result of an old translation mistake, occurred during the redaction of an early company history after 1945.

"Nifca" comes from Nichidoku Foto Camera.[5]Nichi in Nichidoku means Japan, and it is certainly not coincidental that "Nifca" can also be read as Nippon Foto Camera.

General description

The Nifcarette is a vertical folder, taking 4×6.5cm exposures on 127 film. It is not self-erecting: the front standard needs to be manually pulled out after opening the bed. There is a folding brilliant finder attached to the front standard, and sometimes a hinged wireframe too. The word Nifca and the serial number are normally engraved on a small plate screwed to the base of the front standard.

There is a winding key at the top right (as seen by the photographer holding the camera vertically), and the folding bed release is placed next to it. The film advance is controlled by a single uncovered red window in the middle of the back. This red window is surrounded by a circular metal frame, which extends to the side and contains the retracting bead for the wireframe finder on the cameras originally equipped with such device.

The side plate and the film chamber with the bellows assembly and spool holders slides out of the body shell when the camera is opened, as on the KraussRollette. The camera is locked in closed position by a small sliding button on one side of the body, with A and Z indications (for Auf and Zu, i.e. open and closed in German).

The name Nifcarette is embossed in the leather covering on the folding bed.[6] The logo of Nichidoku is engraved between the lens rails, with the letters N, D, PH and Co assembled inside a circle, surely for Nichi Doku Photo Company. (This logo was strongly inspired from that of G. A. Krauss found on some versions of the Rollette.)

Versions

Naming

Many sources say that the Nifcarette was sold in three models, called Nifcarette A, B and D.[7] The names "Nifcarette A" and "Nifcarette B" are confirmed by original advertisements in Asahi Camera, respectively dated May and September 1930.[8] The pictured cameras show important differences in the focusing mechanism and in the layout of the front standard, and the names "A" and "B" clearly refer to two different body versions. The name "Nifcarette D" certainly applies to the cheaper body version, but no original document has yet been observed to confirm this name.[9] It is not known if there was a model C.[10]

The Xenar lens was supplied by Schneider and the Wekar lenses were supplied by Kenngott.

The original documents observed so far are insufficient to assign these combinations precisely to the body versions. Sources agree that the Aplanat f/8 lens corresponds to the Nifcarette D.[13] The other combinations presumably apply to the Nifcarette A and B; of course the most expensive combinations tended to be mounted on the most sophisticated Nifcarette A.

The Nifcarette A

The Nifcarette A has a focusing worm-screw sunken in the folding bed, to the photographer's right, moving the lens standard back and forth on precisely machined rails. This focusing device is copied on the Goerz Roll-Tenax.[14] The lens standard has two handles at the bottom, used to pull it out after opening the folding bed. The body edges have a metal finish and there is no wireframe finder.

This model appears in the May 1930 advertisement in Asahi Camera, where its name is given in Roman letters ("Nifcarette Mod. A") and in katakana script (ニフカレッテ・モデルA).[15] The picture is heavily retouched; it was used alone by the company in an early historical article, and is reproduced on the right.[16] The pictured camera has body no.1370, a Schneider Xenar 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a rim-set Compur shutter (T, B, 1–300).

It is said that the version with Xenar and rim-set Compur was initially priced at ¥75 in 1929, and that advertisements dated 1930 give the price of ¥90.[17] Other lenses and shutters were reportedly available, presumably in the following combinations:[18]

Some sources mention a Heliostar lens and Koilos shutter combination, mainly because the surviving Nifcarette B having such equipment is misidentified as a Nifcarette A;[19] this combination was probably not originally advertised on any Nifcarette model.

The only surviving example of the Nifcarette A observed so far is pictured in Awano.[20] Its body number is hardly legible as 1404. It has a Wekar-Anastigmat f/6.3 lens and a dial-set Pronto shutter.

The Nifcarette B

The Nifcarette B has a focusing lever on the right instead of a worm-screw. The lens rails are simpler and made of folded sheet metal. The front standard is pulled out by two pins; these are mounted on a small plate hinged to the bottom of the lens standard itself and retracting together with the folding bed when the camera is closed. The wireframe finder seems to be part of the standard equipment, in addition to the brilliant finder; it has an indent at the bottom to allow the pulling pins to retract.

The pictured camera has metal body edges and a wireframe finder. Its shutter is an Ibsor; the words IBSOR and DRP are inscribed at the top of the shutter plate, and NIFCAPHOTO is faintly legible on the speed-setting dial,

The January 1931 advertisement in Asahi Camera lists the "Nifcarette B" (ニフカレッテB) and shows the same picture, but gives no detail.[22]

One source, certainly based on some early historical account by the Minolta company, says that the Nifcarette B was available in four versions:[23]

Pictures of at least four actual examples have been observed. The example pictured in this article has body no.3089.[26] It has metal finished body edges and a wireframe finder, the same as in the advertisements. The shutter is a dial-set Pronto giving 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds; the name PRONTO is inscribed in the speed-setting dial and the front plate has the AGC logo of Gauthier. The lens is engraved W. Kenngott Stuttgart Anastigmat Wekar 1:6.3 F=75mm and has no serial number.

Other two examples are twins, with body no.3773 and 3774.[27] The better known is no.3774, which was belonging to the Minolta Gallery in the 1980s;[28] it is certainly the example that was displayed in the JCII exhibition about Konica and Minolta in 2005. Today (2008) it is probably the property of Konica Minolta or Sony. The two cameras have metal body edges and a wireframe finder. They have the same dial-set Pronto shutter as the previous camera. The lens is a Wekar f/6.3 on both, but the lens engraving differs: on the available pictures of no.3773, it is faintly legible as W. Kenngott Stuttgart Wekar–Anastigmat 6.3 7.5cm with no lens number, whereas it is Wekar–Anastigmat 1:6.3 f=75mm Nr.3782 with no mention of the lens maker on no.3774.[29]

The fourth example is pictured in many sources, where it is sometimes misidentified as a "Nifcarette A".[30] It has a Heliostar f/6.3 lens, engraved Heliostar Anastigmat München 1:6.3 f=75mm Nr75004, whose origin is unclear (see the corresponding page), and a dial-set Koilos shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds. The name KOILOS is inscribed on the cover of the speed setting wheel; this cover extends down above the lens and also has the words Nifca Photo. There is a hole under the lens, certainly for a thread and needle release (a crude replacement for a self-timer). The nameplate with the serial number is missing: the hole for the attaching screw is visible at the bottom of the lens standard. The wireframe is absent, perhaps because it is missing too. The body edges are black painted, and the advance key differs from that of the other Nifcarette.

The Nifcarette D

The Nifcarette D reportedly corresponds to a simpler version, with a lens standard back and forth by hand for focusing, and an Aplanat f/8 lens.[31] It is said that two versions were offered: with a Pronto shutter for ¥20 and with a Vario shutter for ¥18.[32]

Pictures of at least two surviving examples with hand-driven focusing have been observed. These two examples present important differences in the shape of the lens standard. It is not known for sure if either one of the two, or both, correspond to the Nifcarette D. The more elaborate example might correspond to an hypothetical "Nifcarette C", whereas the simpler one might be a Nifcarette D, but this is mere guesswork.

One of them is shown in this page at Yone Lab; its body number is legible as 5019. It has metal body edges and is not equipped with a wireframe finder. Its lens standard is similar to that of the Nifcarette B; there is no focusing lever but an index moving along a black distance scale on the photographer's left. The shutter is a dial-set Pronto, similar to that of no.3089, 3773 and 3774. The lens has f/8 to f/32 aperture settings and is reportedly engraved "Wekar-Aplanat".[33]

The other example is pictured in various sources.[34] Its body edges are black painted, and no wireframe finder is visible. The lens standard differs from that of no.5019; it does not have the hinged plate with the two pulling pins, its focusing index has a different shape, and the whole assembly is in bare metal finish. The plate displaying the maker's short name and the serial number is absent, and was perhaps never fitted (no mounting hole is visible). The shutter is a dial-set Vario giving 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds; the name VARIO is inscribed on the setting dial and no other marking is visible. The lens is reported as an Aplanat 75mm f/8; on the available pictures, the marking is faintly legible as Aplanat 1:8 F=75mm with no mention of the name "Wekar".[35]

The Sirius Bebe

The Sirius Bebe (シリウスベベー) is a dual-format evolution of the Nifcarette B, taking 4×6.5cm and 3×4cm exposures. The back is accordingly modified, with two hexagonal red windows. The wireframe finder is replaced by a folding sportsfinder on the side, above the back opening button, with two bars indicating the field of view for 3×4cm pictures; this finder is very similar to that mounted on the later Minolta Vest. There is an advance knob instead of a key, and the body edges and standing leg are black painted. The front standard and focusing system are the same as on the Nifcarette B. The name Sirius Bebe is embossed in the leather of the folding bed, at the same place as the Nifcarette logo of the previous models.

The Sirius Bebe was forgotten by the company in its own historical accounts, and does not appear in the September 1958 chronological table cited above;[36] this certainly explains why it is mentioned by very few sources (all of them Japanese). These suggest that the Nifcarette was renamed Sirius Bebe after the company changed its name from Nichidoku Shashinki Shōten to Molta Gōshi-gaisha in 1931.[37] However there was some overlap of the serial numbers between the two models (see below), probably indicating that the new model did not directly replace the Nifcarette, but was added to the range as an evolved version.

An original leaflet for the Sirius Bebe is reproduced in an article by Awano.[38] It presents the camera and also serves as a bilingual user manual (in English and Japanese). The early Molta logo and the words "Molta Camera Works" appear on the front page; the latter is surely a dummy name. The camera is described as having a Heliostar Anastigmat f/6.3 lens and a Koilos shutter, and the weight is given as 340g. The pictured camera has a black advance knob, and the Koilos shutter still has the small Nifca Photo nameplate, despite the new Molta company name. It is said that the camera was supplied with a soft release, a Molta exposure table and a user manual (perhaps the very document itself); no price is given. It is reported elsewhere that the Sirius Bebe appears in an original catalogue with a Heliostar f/4.5 lens; however this might be a confusion with the previous document.[39]

At least two surviving examples of the Sirius Bebe are known. The better known camera has a dial-set Compur shutter and a Doppel-Anastigmat Wekar 7.5cm f/4.5 lens by Kenngott, with the aperture scale at the top.[40] The advance knob has a metal finish, unlike that pictured in the user manual. The name Nifca appears at the bottom of the front standard, and the body number is 4821. This is lower than no.5019 found on a Nifcarette. A clamp is visible on the side of the lens standard to attach a wireframe, certainly because parts initially made for the Nifcarette B were used to assemble this camera.

The other example has a different shutter type (probably a Pronto), a black advance knob, and no wireframe attachment at all.[41] The small size of the only available picture does not allow to draw any further.

Notes

↑ The date is given in Tashima, Watakushi no rirekisho, quoted in Tanimura, p.96 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12: 昭和4年の3月初め、ついに1台の写真機が完成した. This information is repeated in Awano, p.6 of the same magazine. The fifty-year history Minolta 50-nen no ayumi, p.5, also says that the first camera was completed in March 1929; in this document, the table on p.65 gives the price of ¥18–20 for the model released in March 1929, but this is perhaps a confusion.

↑ Awano, p.13 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12, mentions the existence of the model "C" as unsure. The Rulex shutter, a later product by Neumann & Heilemann, is known to exist only in A, B and D versions; this was perhaps because the letter "C" is pronounced "shī" by Japanese speakers, a sound reminding the word shi meaning "death".

↑ 12.012.1 The table has Prontor (プロンター), clearly a mistake for Pronto (プロント). The same mistake is done in Taniguchi, p.275 of Shashin Kōgyō no.77 (article also reproduced in Tanimura, p.8 of Camera Collectors' News no.116).

↑ Advertisement reproduced in Hagiya, p.9 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12. The fifty-year history Minolta 50-nen no ayumi, p.65, says that the Nifcarette A was released in June 1930 but this is inaccurate.

↑ Awano, p.6 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12. The initial price of ¥75 is also mentioned for this version in Taniguchi, p.275 of Shashin Kōgyō no.77 (article also reproduced in Tanimura, p.8 of Camera Collectors' News no.116). Francesch, p.17, Scheibel, p.9, and Kikan Classic Camera 14, p.14, mention the price of ¥75 for the most expensive version of the Nifcarette.

↑ Awano, p.13 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12, mentions Xenar f/4.5, Wekar f/4.5 and f/6.3 lenses, dial-set Compur, Ibsor and Pronto shutters, without assigning precise combinations. Francesch lists the first three combinations on p.69, and also mentions that with Wekar f/6.3 lens and Pronto shutter on p.17. The price of ¥45 for the cheaper combination is reported in Minolta 50-nen no ayumi, p.65, and in Francesch, p.17.

↑ Advertisement reproduced in Hagiya, p.9 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12. The fifty-year history Minolta 50-nen no ayumi, p.65, says that the Nifcarette B was released in September 1930, perhaps after this advertisement.

↑ The price range is given as ¥33–60 in the fifty-year history Minolta 50-nen no ayumi, p.65; this is consistent with the price of ¥33 for the Pronto version in the September 1930 advertisement in Asahi Camera. Francesch, p.17, says ¥35–60 instead, perhaps as a result of a misprint.

↑ No.3773 is pictured in Eimukku 735 Minolta, pp.4 and 130–2. No.3774 is pictured in Francesch, p.68 and cover page, in Sugiyama, item 1180, in Kikan Classic Camera 14, p.14, in this page of the Konica Minolta website and in various websites copying the same picture.

↑ Example pictured in Francesch, p.28, in Sugiyama, item 1179 (where it is said to belong to Y. Saji), and in Zaisu Ikon, p.7 of Camera Collectors' News no.63 (Zaisu Ikon is certainly a pseudonym for Y. Saji).

Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minoruta I-gata to II-gata" (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型, Semi Minolta I and II). In Camera Collectors' News no.116 (February 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. (Contains a reproduction of the articles in Shashin Kōgyō no.77, a discussion of the release dates and no other information on the Nifcarette.)